J.M. NORTHUP's BLOG

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Readers' Favorite Reviews TALLY!

5-Star Review for J.M. Northup's

TALLY: A Polyamorous Romance


Readers' Favorite

    BOOK REVIEW

Tally: A Polyamorous Romance is a contemporary romance novel written by J.M. Northup. Lex felt personally culpable when he saw that Tally’s ex-boyfriend, George, had somehow gotten into Tally’s office and was harassing her. But Tally just didn’t see things that way. She had sent George packing with a threat to get a restraining order if he tried to see her again. Tally couldn’t ever forgive his behavior towards her or his wife. But Tally didn’t blame Lex for not being there to stop George. Being her assistant was not the same as being her bodyguard. Tally and Lex had been friends for just about their entire lives, and Lex’s husband, Kode, had also come to be considered as part of Tally’s extended family. Jazz, the ebullient and sometimes harsh Amazon who was Tally’s law partner, was quick to respond to George’s intrusion by laying blame on Lex, but Tally just wasn’t having it. When Jazz used her position in the firm as a partner to bully Lex, Tally came to a decision about Lex and his professional role. Jazz wouldn’t like it much, but it was the right thing to do.

J.M. Northup’s contemporary romance novel is a warm and engrossing story about family and love. Tally’s decision to make Lex a partner, and her request to Lex and Kode, come from her heart and she’s willing to risk everything to make those things happen. Watching as the three friends come to terms with their relationships and establish new feelings of trust and security is a marvelous thing indeed. I especially enjoyed getting to see Lex and Kode’s interactions as well as how they work to accommodate their relationship with Tally. The highlight of this book for me, however, is the dinner Tally hosts for her extended family. It’s warm, magical and unforgettable. Tally: A Polyamorous Romance is most highly recommended.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

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Sunday, March 25, 2018

My Book Review of IT LIVES IN THE BASEMENT

It Lives in The BasementIt Lives in The Basement by Sahara Foley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

*Scary Modern Take On Inca Myth*

This book was a fun read, but frightening. I can see why it was a 2016 Readers' Favorite Finalist in the Fiction - Fantasy - Urban genre!

I am enthralled by myth, lore, and antiquity. The Inca are such an interesting culture, and it was cool to see that interwoven into this modern day tale. It enriched the story and made you think 'what if?' It also fits with ancient alien beliefs while highlighting some archeological facts.

I can tell the author researched the legends and creation myths in detail. She did a great job pulling it into the story without distracting from the fear factor or entertainment of the reading experience. I definitely recommend this book!

View all my reviews

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

C.L. Schneider's NITE FIRE: Chain Reaction

Book Spotlight

1)      What is the title of your book?
Ø  What is the story abfout?
·   Chain Reaction is the 2nd story in the Nite Fire Series involving shapeshifters, dragons, urban legends, conspiracies, and parallel worlds, all wrapped in a supernatural murder mystery.
Ø  Who is the main character?
·   Dahlia Nite, a shapeshifting creature-hunter from a parallel world ruled by dragons.
2)     What inspired this tale?
Ø  How did the story come to you?
·   I had always wanted to write a story surrounding urban legends. As I created the main character, I decided she was the perfect vehicle for paying tribute to some of my favorite fantasy shows and characters.
Ø  Did you have to research for this novel, and if so, why?
·   I’ve done quite a bit of research for this series: dragons, shapeshifting, urban legends and conspiracy theories, spontaneous combustion and burn wounds, adaptive evolution, genetic mutations, empathic/psychic abilities, DNA manipulation, autopsy, arson and forensics investigations, police procedures, and more.
Ø  If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?
·   I was surprised to learn of a conspiracy theory involving influential members of society being replaced by reptilian shapeshifters. It amazed me how many people actually believed that! Though it does fit nicely with my story 😊
3)     Do you relate to your character?
Ø  Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
·   Not really. Though, there might be a few, small similarities.
ü   If yes, then how?
o   Dahlia drinks too much coffee, doesn’t get enough sleep, and she loves to eat!
ü   If no, how do you differ from one another?
o   Dahlia has compassion, but she can shut it down to get the job done. Even knowing there might be consequences if I didn’t act, I’m not sure I could put aside my feelings as well as she does.
Ø  What made you write this character; were they based on a real person or something that inspired you?
·   Dahlia was inspired by characters from some of my favorite TV shows: Supernatural, X-Files, Jessica Jones, Lost Girl, to name a few.
ü   What should readers know about this character?
o   Dahlia is resilient. She’s a survivor. She makes the hard choices. If necessary, she will kill without hesitation. Yet she isn’t without compassion. Dahlia is an empath and her ability to feel the pain of others can sometimes keep her from being as objective as she should be.
ü   Why is this character important to you?
o   I was anxious to write a strong female protagonist, but after writing epic fantasy from the perspective of a male for so many years, I was nervous about switching gears. I hoped fans of Ian Troy would embrace Dahlia. I was proud of her and the story, but there were so many differences between the series. The fact that Dahlia has been so well received by my readers, really feels like an accomplishment.
Ø  Do you consider the main character of your story to be good or bad, and why?
·   I see Dahlia as both good and bad. She is a trained assassin and spent years killing without mercy. She left that life behind nearly a hundred years ago. But those instincts are still in her. She isn’t afraid to make the hard choices, and they aren’t always nice ones. 
Ø  What’s the objective of your character?
·   Dahlia’s goal is to protect humanity from the creatures that cross in from other worlds, while simultaneously hiding the existence of those worlds and their inhabitants.
4)    Is there anything you specific want readers to know about this piece of work?
I want my readers to know that I’m having a blast writing this series. After The Crown ofStones, I wanted something with less of an epic feel, something that wasn’t so emotionally heavy and complex. Nite Fire fit the bill. It’s fast-paced, full of snark and action. I hope they have as much fun reading the books as I’ve had writing them.   
Ø  Is there a particular idea or morale you are trying to convey?
·   Not really. There are themes and messages if you look for them, but Nite Fire was primarily written to take the reader on an entertaining, action-packed ride.
5)     Is this novel a standalone?
No.
Ø  If it is a part of a series, what’s the series name?
·   Nite Fire
Ø  If it is the first in a series, when can we expect to see the next book published?
·   This is the second book. It is available now for pre-order: http://mybook.to/NF2
Ø  If it is a part of a book series, can it be read as a standalone or do you need to read the entire series to experience the full realm of the tale?
·   You wouldn’t be completely lost if you read Chain Reaction as a standalone. Each book has a specific mystery for Dahlia to solve, but there are also underlying mysteries and deceptions that will unfold throughout the series. A lot of the nuances would be missed if the books were read out of order. 
6)    Where can readers connect with you and purchase your book?  If you have a universal link, please provide it here.

Monday, March 19, 2018

H. Berkeley Rourke's Current WIP - A NEW LIFE!

WIPs and New Releases


1)      Tell us about your work-in-progress, or WIP, as it’s known as in the industry or New Release…
Ø  What is the story about?
·   The title is A New Life. It is a dystopian novel about the aftermath of a Richter Scale 10 earthquake in the Palm Desert area, and the impact of the lives of various people.
Ø  Who is the main character?
·   Mike Randle
2)     What inspired this tale?
Ø  How did the story come to you?
·   I was thinking about my mantra, a new day, a new life and started following the thread.
Ø  Did you have to research for this novel and if so, why?
·   Yes. There is and was a lot of research into locations, roads, the names of cities, other items.
·   Part of the novel, as yet unwritten, is about leaving the place two people have lived in for several years after the quake and after attacks on the west coast by North Korea.
·   Routes will be important.
Ø  If you did research, what do you think surprised you most to learn and why?
·   No real surprises in the research yet. It is basic information.
3)     Do you relate to your character?
Ø  Is your protagonist anything like you personally?
·   Yes.
Ø  If yes, then how?
·   Physical size, willingness to learn and put new notions and understandings into practice.
Ø  If no, how do you differ from one another?
·   In many ways. He is much younger, more malleable, less convinced life has brought him that which he is unable to handle.
Ø  What made you write this character; what made them important to you or made you want to tell their story?
·   Well, first, I needed a protagonist.
·   Secondly, I wanted the idea of A NEW LIFE to resonate throughout, meaning he has to learn how to live in a new way, with many changes requiring him to learn and adapt. I guess my being convinced many in our society are unprepared to handle the impact of major disasters or an attack on the nation is playing a role in the fleshing out of the character.
4)    Is there anything you specific want readers to know about this piece of work?
It will not be ready for consumption for quite a while. It is nearing 30,000 words at the moment with an anticipated total of somewhere in the neighborhood of 60,000 ending.
5)     When will the novel be available for purchase?
I would think in the fall of this year most likely.


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